Essex took 13 of the 16 wickets they needed to beat Durham on Friday and gain promotion to the first division.

All being well for the Chelmsford-based side, they should complete their win at the Riverside on Saturday morning.

Jamie Middlebrook and John Stephenson enjoyed fine bowling performances on Friday.

Middlebrook's off-spin realised four for 48 as Durham crashed to 187 all out in their first innings.

And he then added the crucial wicket of Ashley Thorpe for 95 in the second innings.

Michael Gough carried his bat for 75 in the first innings before becoming one of Stephenson's three victims in the second innings when he was out for 46.

Gough and Thorpe apart, no other Durham batsman has looked up to the task in this match, save Brad Hodge, the Australian who contributed 56 in the second innings.

Hodge finally fell to captain Paul Grayson in the second innings after putting on 136 with Thorpe for the fourth wicket.

Once that pair had been separated, Essex enjoyed an excellent final hour of the day.

Durham: M A Gough, G J Pratt, B J Hodge, G J Muchall, A M Thorpe, I Pattison, A Pratt (Wkt), I D Hunter, N C Phillips (Capt), N Killeen, S J Harmison.

Essex: D D J Robinson, W I Jefferson, J P Stephenson, M E Waugh, A Habib, A P Grayson (Capt), J S Foster (Wkt), J M Dakin, J D Middlebrook, G R Napier, J B Grant.

Essex won toss and decided to bat